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- (No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 1. T. A. MACAULAY.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 401,187. Patented Apr. 9, 1889.

. Q QR 5 M Q? i 1 (No Model.) Q 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. A. MAGAULAY.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 401,187 Patented Apr. 9, 1889.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. T. A. MAOAULAY. AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. N0. 401,187. Patented Apr. 9, 1889.

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, T. A. MAOAULAY.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 401,187. Patented Apr. 9, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. MACAULAY, OF NEW YORK N. Y.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. I

SPECmCATION forming art Of Letters Patent N0. 401,187, dated April 9, 1889. Application fllod July 24, 18 BB- Serial No. 208,915- (No model.)

To all w/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. MACAULAY, of the city, county, and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Musical Instruments, of which the following, with the accompanying drawings, is a specification. I

My invention relates to improvements in self-operating musical instruments in which a the perforated sheet. The other figures are detail views and modifications, hereinafter fully described.

A is a cylinder having holes. a and bushes or guides b in its periphery. Itsaxle A is journaled in suitable hearings in aframe, E.

B, Fig. 6, is the perforated music-sheet, ofpaper or other suitable material, having lines of holes along its edges.

B, Fig. 4, is a roller, preferably of rubber,

which will force any of the sliding pins b back into position should any fail to drop back by gravity after assuming a vertical position, and keep the edges of the holes e e from being strained on the pins d (l.

B Fig. 4, is a guard'over the cylinder placed in an inclined position.-

C is a roller on which the perforated sheet O is a takeup roller.

D, Fig. 1-, is a comb of tuned teeth secured to the plate F by-screws 3 3 3.

E is thg frame of the instrument, in which erand other working parts are fitted.

F is a comb-plate journaled in split bearings in the frame E and secured by clampingscrews 2 2, and having an operating-arm, R.

F are lugs projecting from the frame E.

F F are arms projecting from the plate F 'and resting against the lugs F, for securing a fixed position to the comb D.

G is a gear-wheel fixed to the shaft G.

the wheel I and jour O is alever connected with the shaft G, for winding the spring-power G". P is a lever operated by a pin in the cylinder for stopping the fan-wheel and the driving-power.

P is a stud on which the lever P is naled.

P is a downward extension of the lever P.

P is an upward extension of the lever P.

' I" is a pin fixed to the lower end of the lever P, and provided with a spiral spring of suflicient strength to move the ,leverP and a clip-piece, I, to insure an easy action in stopping the instrument.

R is an upward extension of the plate F.

a a a, Figs. 1 and 4, are pins made with heads on one end in the form of rivets.

b b Figs. 1 and l, are bushings .driven or screwed into holes 0 c in the cylinder A.

They are of equal length, and when in position are even with the face of the cylinder,

the inner ends servingas a stop to the pinheads when they fall through the holes in the sheet.

d d, Figs 1 and 5, are registering pins fixed in each end of' the cylinder A, and project a short distance from its face. They are equally distant from each other circumferentially.

e 2, Fig. '6, are registering holes in the sides of the paper sheet, of the same equal distance apart as the pins J d in the cylinder A.

. f is a bolt having a shoulder, f and a spiral spring ineloscd in'a hub in the frame E. On this bolt f is journaled'the roller 0. The other end of the roller is journaled on the bolt f, Fig. 1. The holesc c, Fig. 1, are

deeper than the length of the pins (1 a and slightly larger than .the pin-heads, so as to permit a free movement of the pin-heads in inder.

a Y 4.01am

the space between the inner ends of thebush and the lower end of the hole 0, into the cyl- The pins are also sufficiently loose in the bushes to insure a free movement by gravity alone. 1

The operation is as follows: The cylinder A is caused to rotate by any suitable power, preferably clock-work such as is used in music-boxes, as. partly shown in the train of gearing to the right of Fig. 1. The plate F is thrown out of position downward by the arm B, so as to leave space enough between the cylinder A and the comb D. The sheet of perforated paper is passed from the roller 0 around the cylinder A, theregistering holes e e in the paper sheet B being passed over the registering pins d d in the cylinder A, and its end secured in any suitable way to 'the roller 0'. The wheel N on the roller C -is rotated by frictional contact with the wheel M, which is fixed to the cylinder A, so that. as'fast as the sheet is delivered from the cylinder A it is taken up by the roller 0'. The holes a a of the sheet B, Fig. 6, are in fixed relation to the holes e e e in the paper sheet,"and the fixed pins (1 d r are in the same fixed relation to the sliding pins (1. a in the cylinder A as the, holes a e and a a in the paper sheet B. It therefore follows that every hole a in the paper sheet B, Fig. 6, must come opposite a hole, a or a, in the cylinder A, and that as many pins will fall by theii gravity through holes in the papersheet as there are holes in the sheet opposite a pin in ,the cylinder, projecting a s ort distance from the cylinder-face, and will remain in that position till they come in contact with and cause the comb-tongues to vibrate in the order predetermined by the position of the holes a a in the paper sheet B. When the pins reach avertical position in the cylinder A, they fall back by their gravity on their heads in the holes 0 c, as shown in. Fig.

their other ends being slightly below the surface of the cylinderA ready to fall through holes in the sheet again and vibrate the combtongues, as before, and produce a succession of sweet sounds. -When the perforated sheet has reached the end of the music-holes a a, a hole, a, in" the sheet B between the registering holes 2 e e comes opposite a pin, a, Fig. 6, in the cylinder A and falls through in due time, coming in contact with the clip-piece P, connected to the lever P. This raises up that .end of the lever P, bringing its opposite end, P, in contact with the fan-wheel K, and thus stops the motion of the apparatus. The paper' sheetmay then be rewound and removed and another sheet be substituted for it, as before described.

If it is desired to stop the instrument before finishing apiece, by pressing forward the extension P ot the lever the end P will be broughtin contact withthe fan-wheel L and so stop its motion.

It will be noticed that the guard B has an inclined position toward the cylinder at one of its sides. This inclination serves also to force back into their placesthepins a'shpuld any of them project from the face of the cylinder after assuming a vertical position, as

well as when a slight spring is used, as shown in Fig. 8.

I have shown myinvention as principall applied to vibrating tongues or a comb sue as are used in music-boxes; but it can readily 'may trip a hammer and the hammer strike strings or wires, as in a piano, as commonly done in instruments of that kind.

Instead of the pins being operated by gravity alone to cause them to pass through the holes in the paper sheet, they may have slight springs to. assist, as shown in Fig. 8, or otherwise applied in any suitable manner. instead of operating the comb-teeth directly by the pins, a spur-wheel, h, as shown in Fig. 9, maybe used,the spurs c 0 coming in contact with the comb-teeth or other sounding device instead of the pins direct. The advantage of the spur-wheel It is that being mounted on a shaft in close proximity to the comb-tooth and the spurs being rigid their action-.is-more certain and positive. 1

Instead of sliding pins, as shown in Fig. 4, pins may be pivoted,as shown in Fig. 10. Instead of having the registering pins d d at each end of the cylinder, as shown, a single row may be placed in the center of the cylinder and theregistering holes e the same in the sheet B. Such an arrangement permits a narrower strip of paper sheet to be used;

The pins a are shown as round in form; but they may be of any other desirable form and the bushings made to suit such ditlerent form, and the holesin the paper may be made other than round to suit the form of 1101 ins.

'As shown in Fig.4-,the two comb teeth D are placed in a horizontal position in the same plane at such a distance apart that the sound of two tuned alike shall be of greater least four teeth having the same soundmaybe successively set in vibration and a sound of considerable duration be produced. If deemed desirable, a hole, such as a, may be provided on the opposite side of the sheet B for operating a lever to tilt the plate F in stead of havingtodo it by hand.

The music-sheet has its edges folded over where the lines of registering holes e e come, to insure strength, and, if deemed desirable,

. 10' 3. In an automatic musi,

' 5. In combination, the cylinder having pins a strip of cloth may be placed between said folds; orthe sheet edges may be bouudwith strengthening material; '1 metallic or other eyelets in the registering holes e e may be used to resist wear..

The frame E is made of two parts and bolted to a base-plate.

Having described my invention I claim- 1. In an automatic musical instrument controlled by a perforated sheet, a'cyliuder having movable pins, said pins being-held i-n operative position by gravity alone to operatea sounding device, for the purpose specified:

'2 In an automatic musical instrument con- 15. trolledby a perforated sheet, a cylinder having movable pins, said pins being held in operative position by gravity alone, in combination with means, as h, to operate. sounding devices, for the purpose spe fied.

combination, the cylinder having movable pins controlled by a perforated sheet and a spur-wheel operated by said pins, for the purpose specified.

4. In an automatic musical instrument, in

combination, the cylinder having pins controlled by a perforated sheet and a-device having multiple projections adapted'to be operated by said pins, for the purpose speciand the spur-wheels O, operated by said pins, for the purpose specified. I 6. In combinatiomthe cylinder-having pins '35 and a device having multiple projections adapted to be operated by said pins, for the purpose specified.

7. In an automatic musical instrument, .a movable perforated sheet, suitable devices for moving said sheet, and a device having multiple projections operated by devices controlled .by said sheet, said multiple projections adapted to operate sounding devices.

8. In an automatic musical-instrument controlled by a perforated sheet, a cylinder havholes and provided with pins adapted to move outward and inward in said, bushes, whereby the extent of movement of the pins isvaried, for the purpose specified 9. In an automatic musical instrument, a

cylinder having holes, bushes open at both ends fitted. into said holes, and pins having for the purpose specified.

10. In an automatic musical instrument controlled by a perforated sheet, a cylinder having'holes,'bushes fitted-into said holes and provided with pins adapted to move outward 6c and inward in the respective bushes, and having heads or. collars playing between the bushes and the inner ends of the holes of the cylinder to limit the movement of the pins, for the purpose specified. 11. In an automatic musical instrument, in combination with a cylinder having movable pins controlled by a perforated sheet, a spurinstrument, in

ing holes, adjustablebushes fitted into said heads or collars looselyfitted in said bushes,

.pose specified.

wheel operated by said" pins and a sounding device operated by said spl t-wheel, for the purpose specified.

'12. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of movable pins in a cylinder controlled by a perforated sheet, a sounding de vice, as D, and an intermediate rotary device for operating said sounding device.

' 13.- In an automatic musicalinstrumentthe combination of movable pins in 'acylinder controlled by a perforated sheet, a-sounding device, and an intermediate device for operating said sounding device.

14. In an automatic musicalinstrument, the combination of a cylinder having pins, a sounding device, and an intermediate rotary device, as h, having projections for operating sounding device, for the purpose speci- 15. In anautomatic musical-instrument, the combination of a cylinder 'having pins, a sounding device, and an intermediate device, as h,ihaving projections, as a", for operating said sounding device, for the purpose specified. j

16. In an automatic musicalinstrument, the following elements in combination: a sound-- ing device, as D, a spur-wheel for operating said sounding device, and an automatic device, as A, provided with means to operate said spur-wheel, for the purpose specified.

, 17. In an automatic musical instrument, the following elements in combination: a a sound xoo ingdevicea rotary device having means to operate said sounding, device, and an automatic rotating device, as A, provided with projections adapted to operate said rotary device, for the purpose specified,

18. In an automatic musical instrument, the following elements in combination: a sounding device, as D, a rotary device, as h, having projections, as a, adapted to operate s'aid sounding device, and a rotary device having no projections for operating said rotary device h, for the purpose specified.

19. In an automatic musical instrument, a movable pin-cylinder having lines of holes arranged in quincuncial order, for the purpose specified.

' 20. In an automatic musical instrument, a movable pin-cylinder having lines of holes arranged in quincuncial order and a perforated sheet adapted for use with said cylin- 2o der, for the purpose specified.

21. In' an automatic musical instrument, the combination of the clip P, the spring, the lever P and the operating-pin, for the pur- 22. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of a-movable pin-cylinder provided with a stop-pin, a perforated sheet provided with holes registering with said stoppin for releasing the same, and means, as a lever, for stoppingthe instrument thereby.

23. In an automatic musical instrument, in combination, a perforated sheet having holes, a cylinder having movable pins controlled by 75 Bed.

- othersimilar device controlled by said leverto stop the instrument, for the purpose speci- 24. In an automatic musical instrument, a perforated sheet having a line of holes, as e, adapted to engage feeding devices, a hole or holes, as (1., intermediate between said holes,

: and. one or more stop-pins, the iced-engagingholes being. adapted to permit the passage over them of the said. pin or pins to stop the instrument.

25. In an automatic musical instrument, the l 5 combination of a cylinder provided with fixed registering pins, can or more movable stoppins, and a perforated sheet provided with sets of perforations adapted to the several sets of pins, for the purpose specified.

26. A perforated sheet for automatic musical instruments having one or more holes registering with a stop device and adapted to release the same, whereby the instrument is caused to stop. I I I 27. In an automaticmusicalinstrument, the combination of a perforated flexible sheet, a cylinder having fixed pins registerin with said perforations, a wheel,-as M,deriv'1ng its movement from said cylinder, and a take-up roller, as C, for takingup the flexible sheet. 28. In an automatic musical instrument, in combination with a pin-cylinder, a comb-plate movable away from its operative position, for the purpose specified. 29. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of the arm'R with the combplatc F, the arm F, and the lug F, for the "purpose specified. r

4o combination of the comb-plate F, the arm F,

and the lug F for the purpose specified.

clined position over said cylinder,.for'the --'purpose specified.

' 30. In an automatic musical instrument, the

31. Inan automatic musical instrument, in combination with a pin-cylinder two or more comb-plates placed one over-tho other and provided with corresponding teeth tuned in unison, whereby two or more sounds of the same pitch are produced in succession to represent one note and prolong the same.

'32. In an automatic musical instrument, a comh-plate fixed in bearings and adapted to be brou'ghtout of and into operative position,

for the purpose specified.

' 33. In an automatic musical instrument, a cylinder .having movable pins,a perforated sheet, two or more rows of sounding devices 5 5 placed one abovethe other, and devices to operate said sounding devices controlled by perforated sheet, for the purpose speck 34. In an automatic musical instrument, a

perforated sheet, a cylinder having pins adapted to engage in said perforations, and a roller pressing said sheet against said cyl-' inder, for the purpose specified.

'36. In an automatic-musical instrument, a cylinder having pins and a guard placed over said cylinder, for the purpose specified.

36. In an automatic musical instrument, a pin-cylinder having a guard fixed in an in- 37. A perforated sheet for automatic musieal instruments having two lines of equidistant'hoi'es and a series" of lines of holes unequally distant located between said lines of equidistant holes,-for the purpose specified.

Grass. 0. GILL, Enwaan Wonrr. 

